Official blog of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania

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The kid’s alright

Kudos to North Penn High School student Chris Schiano for standing up for his right to free expression. Chris was removed from classes on October 24, 2005 because he wore a shirt that displayed a picture of President Bush over the words “International Terrorist.”

Chris wore the shirt without incident through his three morning classes, but then a security guard in the lunchroom noticed the shirt and demanded that Chris remove it or turn it inside out to hide the message. When Chris refused to do either, he was taken to the administrative office, where he spent the rest of the day.

Lisa Wildman, Chris’s mother, later spoke to Principal Burton Hynes, who told her that students are not permitted to wear shirts that are “controversial” or “offensive.” Principal Hynes told Ms. Wildman that a shirt that praised the President would have been fine, that a shirt supportive of gay rights would have been discouraged but tolerated, but that Chris’s shirt was forbidden because it was “disrespectful to the President.” Chris and Lisa contacted the ACLU of Pennsylvania, which demanded that North Penn retract its ban on the shirt. After 10 days and a threat of litigation, the school finally backed down.

What a f@#$#$$ hyprocrite. The same fundamental right of free speech that allows him to where this shirt, and the same economic environment that endows him with the oppurtunity to buy it, is exactly bush is fighting for.

Looks like little Christopher doesn’t have a daddy, go figure. Good job Ms. Schiano raising your enlightened little boy, you must be a “cool mom”. The other “cool moms” just have beer parties and sex with their childrens friends…Hope that doesn’t give you any ideas. Maybe this tee shirt will help him discover the identity and personality he so sorely requires to get through his teenage years. Though his shirt is trendy, perhaps he will learn that President Bush is the person charged with protecting his right to display his immaturity and complete lack of understanding of current events. Please save us from ourselves